Support ‘For Men To Talk’ with the Co-op Local Community Fund
‘For Men To Talk’ has been part of the Co-op Local Community Fund since October 2025, and the support so far has been amazing. Already, 586 Co-op members have chosen ‘For Men To Talk’ as their local cause. This means real funding going directly into local men’s mental health support.
The Co-op Local Community Fund helps projects that members care about. Across the UK, the Co-op works in partnership with thousands of community groups each year, helping them raise as much money as possible. Since 2016, the Co-op has shared more than £108 million with nearly 40,000 community projects. This money goes straight back into neighbourhoods, helping local people and local services.
At the heart of the Co-op is the belief that profits should be used for good. When someone becomes a Co-op Member, they become an owner. They then choose a cause that matters to them, and a share of the Local Community Fund goes to that cause. It is a simple idea that makes a big difference.
‘For Men To Talk’ is a community interest company that provides peer support for men who are struggling with mental health illnesses such as anxiety, depression and grief. The group offers a safe and comfortable place for men to talk. Conversations often include work pressures, relationships, family life, stress, anxiety and many other parts of everyday life.
There are no rules, no pressure and no forms to fill in. Men do not need a referral and they do not need to register. They can talk as much or as little as they like. Some men come every week, while others drop in when they feel they need support. Everyone is welcome.
Founder Luke Newman says, “Men often feel they have to cope on their own, but ‘For Men To Talk’ shows that you don’t have to face mental health struggles in silence. With the support of the Co-op Local Community Fund, we can reach more men, offer more sessions and remind people that it’s okay to talk.”
The group has grown quickly and now offers physical, virtual, walking and fishing meetings. These take place in:
- Ampthill, Bedfordshire
- Biggleswade, Bedfordshire
- Blunham, Bedfordshire
- Potton, Bedfordshire
- Shefford, Bedfordshire
- Flitwick, Bedfordshire
- Sandy, Bedfordshire
- St Neots, Cambridgeshire
- Gamlingay, Cambridgeshire
- Hitchin, Hertfordshire
- Stockport, Cheshire
‘For Men To Talk’ has also introduced ‘For Men To Talk about Autism’. This group is for autistic men, men with autistic family members, or those waiting for a diagnosis. It provides a calm, inclusive space to share experiences and feel understood.
Every Co-op member who chooses ‘For Men To Talk’ helps the group continue this vital work. The more members who select the cause, the more funding it receives, which means more meetings, more support and more men helped.
If you would like to find out more, visit www.formentotalk.co.uk, call 07709 446480, or email luke@formentotalk.co.uk.
To support ‘For Men To Talk’ with the Co-op Local Community Fund, click: https://tinyurl.com/fmttcoop